Afghanistan: The Wild Shrub at the Root of the Afghan Meth Epidemic

May 20, 2020 | Kern Hendricks, Undark
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Muhammad Rehman Shirzad, a forensic scientist with the Afghan government’s Forensic Medicine Directorate, stops to catch his breath and scans the uneven ground ahead. He is searching for Ephedra sinica, a hardy, sage-colored shrub that grows abundantly across central and northern Afghanistan. The plant contains a naturally-occurring stimulant called ephedrine — the synthetic version of which is a common ingredient in decongestants and weight loss pills, and is often used to make crystal methamphetamine.